I Need Help Choosing Gear

[bigbassmaster4]

I need help choosing some gear I'm 15 years old so moneys pretty hard to come by I worked for several months and a total of 1500 dollars I'm interested in crankbaiting platics and jigs I'm thinking for my crankbait setup the shimano cumara crankbait rod with a lews tournament pro speed spool and for my worm and jig I'm clueless on I need help

[tbone1993]

That is a really good setup IMO. In my head I am starting to think about fall and throwing squarebills. I suggest getting a 6'6 or a 7ft m moderate rod ( the cumara rod should be fine) but also a decent spinning setup. Two rods is enough for someone to get going and you can honestly fish almost every lure on a 7ft m rod.  Dicks sporting goods has some great sales going on right now. My friend bought 3 rapalas for 7 bucks and some other plastics really cheap. Your best bet is to meet up with a fishermen and have them help you pick out a setup. Go to bass pro and talk to the people at the reel counter.

[rockchalk06]

First off, watch the Flea Market here like a hawk. Guys are putting stuff up new and use all the time. Right now, there are two St. Croix Premier rods for sale for 100 shipped for both. These are 120 dollar rods.

 

As for rods, a good quality Medium Fast or Xfast rod will cover everything from weightless plastics, top water baits up to about 3/8 oz weighted plastics and jigs. A good quality MH Fast or Xfast will get you up to about an ounce on the same as before.

 

As for baits, I mainly fish jigs 24/7. 1/2oz is all I use and I rarely use anything but flipping jigs and flip n swims. A good 75 dollar order from North Star Custom Baits would set you up very well. I like Strike King, Rapala and Bomber cranks. Watch the sales at all the local places. Academy has their house brand H2O stuff on sale every week.

 

[SirSnookalot]

At 15 and new to fishing whatever you buy won't be the last outfit and no guarantee that you are going to stick with it.   What I would do is not get overly consumed with buying various kinds of lures and baits.  Keep it simple until you learn the nuances of bass and how to detect a strike and set the hook.  If I had 15 year old I was instructing I'd start him/her off with a senko both weedless and wacky and a jig and trailer.  These 2 baits are very prolific in both numbers and size.  Master them then go on to another type of lure or technique.  IMO it's best to learn how to fish first before investing in every lure out there.

[gallowaypt]

I agree with snook. You can waste a lot if money buying lures for the first time that you will never really use/gain confidence with.. Believe me..the bait monkey has gotten us all! I would suggest a 6-6 to 7' med or med heavy for your worm rod. If you are comfortable with spinning gear, I would go that route because finesse fishing can be utilized more easily with spinning IMO.

[skeletor6]

I need help choosing some gear I'm 15 years old so moneys pretty hard to come by I worked for several months and a total of 1500 dollars I'm interested in crankbaiting platics and jigs I'm thinking for my crankbait setup the shimano cumara crankbait rod with a lews tournament pro speed spool and for my worm and jig I'm clueless on I need help

 

So wait, You have $1500 dollars to spend?. Some clarification on everything you are looking for would be great.

 

1.) Rods/reels you already own

2.) Do you want to spend all of that money

3.) How many outfits do you want

4.) What weight ranges are you looking to fish for you jig/t-rig/work rod

5.) What line do you use, braid, Fluorocarbon, mono, hybrid?

6.) What kind of cover do you fish in?

7.) Also, what length ranges are you comfortable with. Some can't deal with rods over 7 foot

8.) What size lakes are you fishing and out of what type of watercraft?

 

The more information you give the better, What I would say is that you spend less on your cranking setups, the reel is more important in those setups. And for bottom contact setups, you go all out and get the best you can afford. The reel is less important in these setups. I would be happy to give you some information and guidance. Shoot me a PM if you need some philosophical advice.

[Teal]

At your age and probable skill level, I would keep it simple and keep the cost down. Look for used rods and reels and save ALOT of your existing money. 3 or 4 combos are more than sufficient. I would suggestt buying lower cost / modest equipment for now. Personally, i would take 750.00 of your total amount of your money and put it in the bank and forget about it. That leaves room for 3-200$ combos (100 on the rod, and 100 on the reel) and then you have 150 bucks left over for lures, line, and other tackle. For me that is a great start.

I stated to look for used equipement, but even at the 100 dollar price point you can get some darn good rods and reels brand new.

About the money i told you to bank, get some time on the water in and decide if you want to continue to invest lots of money in fishing.

Ebay and the flea market are great resources. To buy used equipment.

[new2BC4bass]

Have to agree about setting money aside.  Best to learn good saving habits at a young age.  If you can afford a Cumara (or simply have to have one) for cranking, then great.  I have one for soft plastics and love it.  However, a crankbait rod need not be all that sensitive.  Sure it is nice, just not necessary.  Dick's Sporting Goods has the Tec Spec Elite on sale $10 off (so $70).  Or pick up an older model (the black Tec Spec) for even less ($60).  I have an older model...Medium power, Med-Fast action that works fine for shallow and medium depth crankbaits.

 

Plastics and jigs is where the Cumara will shine.

 

Lews Tournament Pro reels are nice.  There have been a couple Daiwa Fuegos in the classifieds lately.  Great reels, imho.  Everyone suggests the Pro Qualifier as a nice inexpensive reel.  Currently a new one with asking price of $65 on another site.  Sale price on these is $80....$100 MSRP so a very good deal.   No personal experience with them.  Always a few good deals on this site.

[bigbassmaster4]

O I'm not new to fishing I've been fishing for 5 years now I'm just tired of wasting my money on cheap reels and rods at walmart i be saved this money so I can get good quality reels and rods what do y'all think about this

[bigbassmaster4]

There's supposed to be a picture

[skeletor6]

O I'm not new to fishing I've been fishing for 5 years now I'm just tired of wasting my money on cheap reels and rods at walmart i be saved this money so I can get good quality reels and rods what do y'all think about this

 

if you are really looking to make a big investment I would go with the following.

 

NRX 893c for jigs/t-rigs up to 1/2oz......paired with a curado 50e or chronarch 50e

NRX 873crr or possibly the 894 or 895 for the heavier jigs/t-rigs...paired with a Daiwa Tatula (high speed version) or a 200e7

NRX 852S for your finesse spinning gear.....Go with a Stradic FJ 2500.....best reel for the money and all you will need IMHO

Dobyns 705CB Glass for your crankbait rod.....very versatile and will do almost everything but deep cranks....you could also get a BPS carbonlite if you want to go cheaper.....i would put a nice crankbait reel. There are many do a search on it.

 

That should about max out your $1500....you will not want to replace any of the rods/reels. All will have excellent warranties and they are the best in the business. Get the NRX's as repsamples to save money and get the reels on discount during TW's annual sales.

[bigbassmaster4]

Thank you for all yalls help and what do you think about *** *** 7'6" med hvy extra fast for my flipping and pitching

[new2BC4bass]

O I'm not new to fishing I've been fishing for 5 years now I'm just tired of wasting my money on cheap reels and rods at walmart i be saved this money so I can get good quality reels and rods what do y'all think about this

 

So........you are a walking testament to the fact that cheap isn't always best. 

 

New is nice.  A great deal is better!    One spinning reel and 3 casting reels of mine were purchased new.  the other 30 some were purchased used.  A few of the used still look like new.  Only one used had to be sent for repair....not counting the one that one side of the thumb bar got broken during transit.

 

I can't offer suggestions for rods in the range "skeltor" just gave you.  My most expensive rod is a Zillion (my out-of-pocket).  The most expensive (new) rod I own is also one of the cheapest I got on closeout. 

 

Now if you want quality rods without spending as much as what an NRX will set you back, then I can suggest a Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth for your Medium or MH rods.  Have heard great things about Kistler's new KLX rods, but don't have one yet.  I like the looks (and reviews given) of the Powell Endurance, but don't have one of those either.

 

Nothing wrong with a top end Dobyns or St Croix......other than the fact I can't afford one. 

 

EDIT:  Another route to go would be with custom rods.  Sponsor of this forum also builds rods, and is a very nice guy to work with.

[new2BC4bass]

I have to remind myself that the OP is a 15 year old.  Two years from now he might drop the sport entirely to chase girls.  Even if he continues to stay in the sport, I think we are doing him a disservice suggesting $450 rods.  Rods running $100-$160 will not only be significant upgrades to what he is currently using, but will be of a quality that will last him for years to come.

 

I could suggest the Daiwa Zillion HLC 100HL with a current price of $320.  Would love this reel myself.  However, I would rather see the boy purchase the 2 Daiwa Fuegos in excellent condition for $100 each.  These had an MSRP of $229.95, and I can attest to the fact they are excellent reels at full price, but a steal at $100.

 

*** Blacks are the current rage.  I can only assume the *** Black is even better.  I own one ***.  Prefer my Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth rods.  Nothing bad about the ***, but I can cast the Fenwicks one-handed much easier.  Feels like I am going to lose the ***.  Not a problem for me as almost all my casts are 2-handed, but it was a problem for the gentleman I bought the rod from.

[JD96]

I would personally grab a Chronarch 50e for worms and jigging, on the Shimano worm and jig rod, the 100 dollar model whatever it's called.

 

And a Chronarch 200e5 on the shimano cranking rod of the same model

 

And another Chronarch that you set up for "feel fishing" and your favorite baits.

 

For me that setup is on a 7ft Med heavy rod with a fast tip, I like to feel the hit, but I also like the pulling power I have setting the hook through thick plastic baits.

 

Take the rest and buy a bunch of line, lures, and terminal tackle and have everything you could ever want, obviously you're gonna have money left over, and with that, I would save it and continue to work until you can get your own boat whether that be an 8 ft plastic boat or a 19 foot skeeter.

 

Coming from a 16 year old in a similar situation, building my rod arsenal and saving for a boat.

[Amarley]

IMO the best mix of value and quality rod out there is the iROD 7' Heavy for a jig and worm rod. It throws anything between 1/4 oz and 1 oz. I use it for everything from spinnerbaits to texas rigs to topwater. Great for light and heavy cover. For $150, it's like having several rods. Keep an eye out for sales at Tackle Warehouse, sometimes you can get them 15% off.

[Amarley]

That's the Genesis II series, although if you want to pony up for the Air, I hear it's even lighter and more sensitive. You can also use the 7'H Genesis II for small swimbaits, swim jigs and pitching into heavy cover. I own 3 iRods and they are my favorites compared to my Omens, St. Croix Mojos, BPS rods, GSX's, etc in the $100-$150 price range. For a little more dough you could look at a G Loomis GL2 or Powell Endurance or Powell Max. Those are also excellent rods, but in my experience, they aren't as versatile as the iRods. Good luck with your selection!

[Arv]

I would drop more money on the worm/jig rod. With bottom contact applications, buy the most sensitive rod you can afford. With 1500 dollars, I would be looking at a Dobyns Extreme. Obviously G. Loomis, St. Croix and a few others have outstanding reputations for offering top of the line rods so consider those as well.

 

For the crankbait rod, I still believe in finding a sensitive rod, I just don't believe it has to posses the same degree of sensitivity that a worm/jig rod needs. You still need to feel your bait wobble and when it bangs into things, digs the bottom, gets stuck in grass/weeds and, most importantly, gets munched on by a fish.

 

As far as reels, the Lews Tournament Pro is a fantastic choice. I'm quickly becoming a Lewser, but companies like Shimano and Daiwa also offer great products. I would recommend checking out what they have as well, especially with their new offerings in the Chronarch and Tatula.